Install Findmino as an app for the best experience!
(Packaging Manager, Production Manager, Packaging Specialist, Operations Manager)
Engineering & Manufacturing
Salary
€45,000 - €85,000/yr
Level
Senior
Outlook
Stable
Sector
Engineering & Manufacturing
As a Packaging Production Manager you oversee all aspects of packaging operations within a manufacturing plant, food company, or dedicated packaging facility. You are responsible for planning and managing production schedules, ensuring that packaging lines run efficiently, on time, and within budget. Your day-to-day work involves analysing package specifications, maintaining quality control standards, and identifying solutions to packaging problems such as product damage or waste. You collaborate closely with engineers, quality assurance teams, procurement staff, and supply chain colleagues, as well as leading and motivating a team of production operatives and supervisors. You also champion sustainable packaging initiatives and ensure that health and safety regulations are met across all operations.
Listen: a day as a Packaging Production Manager
Your alarm goes off at 6:15 a.m. and you are on the factory floor by 7:00 a.m., well before the day-shift operatives clock in at 7:30. You walk the lines first — a habit known as a gemba walk — checking that the shrink-wrap tunnel, the labelling machines, and the case-erecting equipment are all running from the night shift without fault. You note a jam on Line 3's print-and-apply labeller and radio the maintenance technician straight away. By 8:00 a.m. you are in the morning production meeting with your two line supervisors, the quality assurance coordinator, and the warehouse team leader. You open SAP, the enterprise resource planning system your plant uses, and review yesterday's output against the production schedule. You fell 400 units short on a retail food contract due to that labeller fault, and you need to decide whether to extend the shift or reschedule tomorrow's run.
Most Packaging Production Managers in Ireland hold at least an NFQ Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor degree, typically in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Food Science and Technology, or Packaging Technology, offered at technological universities such as TU Dublin, ATU, MTU, SETU, or TUS. A Level 8 Honours Bachelor in an engineering or science discipline strengthens progression significantly, and many employers favour candidates with this qualification. Relevant Leaving Certificate subjects that provide a strong foundation include Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Applied Mathematics, Design and Communication Graphics, and Agricultural Science for food-sector roles. Some professionals enter the field through a QQI Level 6 Higher Certificate in Engineering or Manufacturing Technology, gaining experience before completing a part-time Level 7 or Level 8 degree. Springboard+ programmes and part-time postgraduate diplomas in operations or supply chain management are also used by those already working in production roles who wish to formalise their skills. Professional membership with Engineers Ireland, while not a statutory requirement, is valued by employers and supports career advancement.
Many Packaging Production Managers begin their careers as production technologists, junior engineers, or quality technicians in food, pharmaceutical, or manufacturing companies, building hands-on experience across packaging lines. With a few years of experience, they progress to supervisory or team leader roles before moving into full management positions with responsibility for staff, budgets, and production targets. From there, experienced managers may advance to operations manager, plant manager, or supply chain manager roles, particularly within large multinationals operating in Ireland such as Kerry Group, Glanbia, or Smurfit Westrock. Pursuing a part-time Level 9 Masters in Operations Management, Engineering Management, or Supply Chain can accelerate movement into senior and strategic positions.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are increasingly being applied to packaging production through predictive maintenance systems, automated quality inspection using computer vision, and AI-driven production scheduling. Packaging Production Managers will be expected to interpret data from these systems and use insights to optimise throughput and reduce waste rather than performing manual inspections alone. AI does not replace the managerial judgement, regulatory knowledge, and team leadership central to this role, but it shifts emphasis towards data literacy and continuous process improvement. Staying current with smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 developments will be important for career progression in Irish plants.
→ Packaging Production Manager (Current role)
Organisations in Ireland that employ people in this occupation.
Clondalkin, Dublin; Dundalk, Co. Louth; Nationwide
Manage corrugated and paper-based packaging production lines at scale.
Kilkenny; Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny
Oversee dairy and nutritional product packaging operations in food manufacturing.
Tralee, Co. Kerry; Naas, Co. Kildare; Nationwide
Manage packaging lines for food ingredients and consumer food products.
Clondalkin, Dublin
Lead flexible and industrial packaging production operations at Irish plants.
Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan
Oversee meat product packaging lines, quality, and production scheduling.
St. James's Gate, Dublin; Dundalk, Co. Louth
Manage bottling, canning, and secondary packaging for beverages at scale.
Ringsend, Dublin; Nationwide
Oversee glass and metal container manufacturing and packaging production.
Clonee, Co. Meath; Nationwide
Manage beef and convenience food packaging lines within processing facilities.
Citywest, Dublin
Lead consumer health and hygiene product packaging production operations.
Newbridge, Co. Kildare; Nationwide
Oversee packaging of peat, biomass, and consumer household product lines.
Tralee, Co. Kerry; Cork; Nationwide
Manage own-brand product packaging operations across food retail supply chain.
We don't know whether these employers currently have vacancies — always check their own website. And if there's somewhere you'd really love to work, it can be worth applying anyway, even without an open vacancy.
Our tools can help you with that:
We use functional cookies and — with your consent — cookies for preferences, statistics and marketing.